John Hansen

The Ring

‘The Ring’ (2002) creepily brings J-horror to US

Frightening Friday (Movie review): This classic flick was at the vanguard of introducing Eastern genre styles to Western filmgoers.

Solaris 2002

‘Solaris’ (2002) fails to find purpose of its existence

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The second big-screen adaptation of “Solaris” doesn’t find enough of a new reason to exist.

Midnight in Paris

Allen loves another city in ‘Midnight in Paris’ (2011)

Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Allen has shown the beauty of New York in several films. Here, he makes Paris magical.

Airframe

Crichton’s ‘Airframe’ (1996) reaches new heights

Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): In the last of his three 1990s non-SF novels, Crichton again makes a seemingly bland topic enthralling.

Dumb Witness

Poirot, dog sniff out Christie’s ‘Dumb Witness’ (1937)

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The Belgian detective’s sense of justice stands out in this Agatha Christie novel.

Heart of the Jedi

‘Heart of the Jedi’ an intriguing lost ‘Star Wars’ novel

‘Star Wars’ Legends flashback (Book review): Kenneth C. Flint’s canceled novel will mainly be of interest to serious Legends fans.

Conjuring 3

‘Devil Made Me Do It’ cursed by high ‘Conjuring’ bar

Movie review: “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” creates a workmanlike fright flick out of real events that warranted a deeper dive.

Piranha

‘Piranha’ (1978, 1995) cheaply knocks off ‘Jaws’

Frightening Friday (Movie reviews): “Piranha” is often called a “Jaws” parody, but really it’s a knockoff. Still, it has a place in film history.

Cruel Summer

With 2 episodes left, 10 ‘Cruel Summer’ questions

TV commentary: Is it possible to believe both Jeanette and Kate? We examine this and other “Cruel Summer” questions as the first season nears its finale.

Bay’s ‘The Rock’ (1996) is deliciously dumb fun

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Here’s a 25th anniversary look back at an all-time great collection of muscular one-liners and explosions.